Well-travelled O'Dea keen to settle down

Darren O'Dea is the pseudo travel correspondent of the Irish team right now, with each of his press appearances becoming a discussion of the lifestyle, climate and football conditions of his current home.

Darren O'Dea is the pseudo travel correspondent of the Irish team right now, with each of his press appearances becoming a discussion of the lifestyle, climate and football conditions of his current home.

After settling in Toronto, O'Dea was unexpectedly dumped to the Ukraine in the summer and now plays for Metalurh Donetsk, the poor relations of neighbours Shakhtar. O'Dea admitted that he fainted when undergoing his medical through a combination of tiredness from travelling and late nights prior to the trip.

"It was a bit of a whirlwind and basically my body gave in after a while," he said. "I needed to take some time off and in fairness the club gave it to me."

The defender is still adjusting to the language and was involved at the weekend. Where's next on his globetrotting adventure? "I don't plan to move for a while," he replied. "My wife will flip out."

Ibrahimovic happy to take heat for Swedes

ZLATAN Ibrahimovic was on media duty in Sweden yesterday ahead of their flight to Dublin today and, with this game also being viewed as a do-or-die encounter in terms of their World Cup prospects, he faced questions on his own international future in the event of failure.

"I want to continue," he said. "The day I can't deliver is the day I'll quit."

Ibra has taken a break from international action before, until the appointment of Erik Hamren helped facilitate his comeback to the fold.

"We shouldn't be cowardly against Ireland," Ibrahimovic continued. "I hope I can give the other Swedish players a sense of calm; let me get the criticism."

Chopper gives Trap air of tactical confidence

A toy helicopter has been monitoring Ireland training sessions this week which, initially, may sound like high jinks around an important qualifier but is actually a part of the video analysis which has added to the study of training these days.

The FAI's technical analyst Brian McCarthy has always recorded Irish sessions, but the helicopter helps to give an aerial view of proceedings. Seamus Coleman (left) was among a group of Irish players who got the chance to operate as pilot afterwards.

Garvan tweets fury at axe from Eagles squad

IT looked set to be a big season for Owen Garvan after securing promotion with Crystal Palace, but it may end up being a short stay after he was excluded from Palace's 25-man squad by manager Ian Holloway in the wake of recent transfer activity.

The Dubliner voiced his displeasure on Twitter. "I'll be here longer than he will..trust me," he wrote.

There has been speculation about Holloway's position and it looks like Garvan needs it to prove accurate.

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